21 years ago today I stood in a beautiful dress, in a sun-filled sanctuary, with many happy faces watching – facing the man I knew God had chosen for me. We confidently and happily vowed faithfulness and love to one another and as a couple, to God. We walked out of that room as husband and wife. It was a beautiful, sunny April day. Surrounded by many friends and family members, we celebrated what God had given us.
There have been lots of joyful times along the way. Lots of good memories. Lots of laughter and blessings. There have also been lots of challenges, troubles, obstacles, and “opportunities for growth” individually and as a couple.
Before we were married, John felt a call from God to serve full-time in ministry. As we made our way through the years of seminary, working extra jobs, raising 3 little girls, barely making it by, and then starting our first pastorate in New Mexico, I realized God was calling me too. He called me to stand beside John, to serve alongside Him, to use my gifts to enhance whatever John was doing. I don’t feel like it was an accident – it was on purpose. The call to be a pastor’s wife is real – it’s not just a role you accidentally fall into.
We’ve faced a lot together and I know there will be more in the future that requires us to pull together rather than apart, to lean on each other and on God, to pray, to wait, to be there for each other. All of the fearful times, the sad times, the disappointing and discouraging times, dumb decisions and better ones, misunderstandings and making up times, waiting and trusting times have deepened our love for each other and strengthened us. I wouldn’t want to face it with anyone else. I’m so glad God gave me John.
So here’s to 21 years, Honey, and to many more.
Time away with my sister and her family, in sunny Arizona, was like the wonderful rush of “ahhhh” after a strenuous workout, when the endorphins kick in.
There was much conversation and diet coke (of course!), much laughter, watching movies, sitting in the sun, walking through beautifully manicured, landscaped southwestern neighborhoods with cactus and brilliant fuchsia bougainvillea vines growing everywhere, shopping at 
Ikea for the first time, tutoring my sis on facebook, driving around town in the little pick-up truck with my nephew Curtis, playing with their two sweet doggies, singing at the piano and visiting with my older nephew TJ, playing guitar hero, holding the snake, Vinnie (!) and just plain ol’ heart-warming love.
I sat down at the piano to play a little the afternoon he was home with us and he came into the room. He started singing a praise song I was playing, so I sang, too. 
In a way all of the people in my life are like a bunch of paper ships being set out on a creek. They float downstream together but then at times one or two may veer off and fall behind or even take a different course altogether. It’s just the way it is. Life is like a creek in that way. People come into our lives but they usually don’t stay there forever. Sometimes they “fall behind” as I keep floating along or the other way around and I’m watching them sail away from me into another future than mine. So…is it really worth investing in people and relationships when you know they’ll probably have to go sometime?
Along the Narrow Path 